Clamp



y 1, 1966 v. A. STATHAM 3,253,843

CLAMP Filed June 12, 1964 o i g INVENTOR.

VlNCENT ALFRED STATHAM WWO,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent "ice 3,253,843 CLAMP Vincent Alfred St ath am,Ryton-on-Dunsmore, England,

assignor t0 Avco Corporation, vColdwater, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware FiledJurte 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,70

1 Claim. (Cl. 287-51) This invention relates to clamps for clampingtogether two longitudinal members such as rods, bars, tubes or the likein crosswise formation and isconcerned with such a clamp of the kind inwhich a U-shaped member is arranged to engage about or straddle one ofthe longitudinal members and is provided with holes or openings in itslimbs for receiving transversely therethrough the other of saidlongitudinal members whilst a clamping element .is provided which isreceived between the limbs of theU-shaped member and between thelongitudinalme-mbers whereby on screw or other act-nation of saidclamping element relative to one of said longitudinal members it co-actsbetween the latter so as to thrust them into frictional contact withcorresponding portions of the U- shaped member.

The object of thisinvention is to provide an improved clamp of the abovementioned kind which is of simple and effective construction for use inclamping a round or similar section longitudinal member in relation to afurther longitudinal member .such as a frame member whereby the roundsection or similar member may be adjusted either angularly and/oraxially on release or slackening of the clamp.

A particular object of the invention isto provide such a clamp whichdoes not call for a high precision fit of the round or similarsectionmem-ber in theclamp whilst no part of the latter bites into orsimilarly engages said member so that the periphery thereof may remainsubstantially unimpaired in this respect.

According to this invention a clamp of the kind referred to ischaracterized by the clamping element thereof being formed so as toengage with a bending action about an adjacent part of the periphery ofa corresponding longitudinal member of round or similar section of twolongitudinal members when the latter are received by the clamp in orderto frictionally hold said longitudinal member on the clamping elementbeing screw or otherwise actuated for thrusting co-action between saidlongitudinal members.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation of a clamp according to this inventionshown in position of use and FIGURE 2 is an end view. 7

Referring to the drawings and in a practical embodiment of the inventionfor clamping, for example, a round section bar 1 to a frame or similarmember 2 of rectangular section, the Ushaped member or bracket 3 isformed such that its closed end engages about or straddles a said framemember 2 so that the limbs 4 of the U-bracket 3 extend beyond the latterat each side.

Whereas the frame member 2 has been shown of rectangular section it isto be understood that it may be of round, square, angle, channel or anyother suitable section in which case the corresponding closed end of theU-bracket 3 is formed accordingly.

Near their free ends the limbs 4 are each provided with an opening orhole 5 which holes are arranged in register to receive the round sectionbar 1 transversely therethrough so that the bar is at an angle such as aright angle to the frame member 2 and spaced a short distance from itfor receiving therebetween a clamping element 6. I

The clamping element 6 is in the nature of a tongue and may consist of asuitable forging arranged to ex- 3,253,843 Pa en ed May 3 966 member 2and bar 1.

For Obtaining a desired action of the clamp the said thin sectionportion 7 of the clamping element 6 .is preferably of part circular formas shown so as to engage about the round section [bar 1 whilst the saidthin section portion {7 should be such that it has a resilient bendingaction.

One end of the clamping element 6 is provided with an enlargement orhead 9 which may as shown include a nose portion 10 adapted to .bearagainst the adjacent side of the frame member 2 whilst the other endextends as a lug 11 of somewhat thicker sect-ion than the thin sectionportion 7 and is arranged to be actuated by preferably screw means suchas a bolt 12 threaded through it and arranged to bear against the framemember 2 at a point a short distance from the U-bracket 3. If desiredother means such as cam mechanism may be employed to actuate the lug 11relative to the frame member 2.

On turning the bolt 12 in the usual tightening direction its co-actionagainst the frame member '2 is such that the lug 11 of the clampingelement 6 is thrust away from the frame member 2. This results in thehead 9 of the clamping element 6 being drawn in a direction between thebar ,1 and frame member 2 so as to have a wedge action in thrusting themapart and into firm frictional contact with corresponding portions ofthe U- bracket 3. In addition the thin section portion 7 of the clampingelement 6 is caused to bend or wrap about a corresponding peripheralpart of the round section bar 1 so as to provide further frictionalengagement with the latter.

Conversely on slackening the bolt 12 .the clamping element 6 may bereleased or slackened from its wedge action whilst, due to its resilientaction, the thin section portion 7 springs open from its intimateengagement about the corresponding peripheral part of the round sectionbar 1. This enables the latter to be readily adjusted axially and/orangularly after which it may be readily re-clamped in its adjustedposition.

The leverage afforded by the lug 11 extending from the clamp assemblyenables the bolt 12 to be readily operated either for effectingapplication of adequate clamping pressure or for obtaining release whenrequired.

It is noted that the projecting threaded adjustable member 12, providingthe adjustable contact between the lug portion 11 and the frame member2, is substantially farther from the center of the bar 1 than is thecontact afforded by thenose portion 10 of the enlarged head of theclamping element. This results in a definite mechanical advantage in theclamping operation produced by actuation of the screw threadedadjustable projecting member 12. A positive clamping force is madepossible by this mechanical advantage with a relatively smallapplication of force on the screw threaded member or other adjustablecontacting portion which may be used.

It is noted also that the central portion 7 of the clamping element 6,as shown in FIGURE 1, contacts the bar member 1 but does not contact theframe member 2. The resilience of the relatively thin section 7 is ofassistance in providing a satisfactory clamping action and the enlargedends 10 and 11 assure that the clamping element will remain in placeeven.though the adjusting screw 12 is released.

The clamp disclosed herein is of the general type which provides abracket for positioning a bar in transverse spaced relationship relativeto a frame member with longitudinal adjustable sliding movement of saidbar in a direction longitudinally of the bar. The invention disclosedprovides improved means for clamping said bar in selected longitudinalsliding positions relative to the frame member while at the same timeaffording means to adjust both the bar and the clamp relative to theframe when desired. Provision of a clamping element-with simplicity inoperation affording a substantial mechanical advantage resulting inpositive clamping but with ease of operation are important practicaladvantages of the device.

From the foregoing it Will be appreciated that a clamp or clamp assemblyaccording to this invention is not'only of robust and compactconstruction but is also of an extremely simple and inexpensive naturehaving particular, but not exclusive, application for use inagricultural and similar equipment. a

The invention has been described by reference to a specific structurefound practical in actual operation but it is intended that variousmodifications be made within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A clamp of the character described for securing a bar to a frame memberin transverse relationship thereto, comprising;

a U-shaped bracket surrounding said frame member and having end portionsthereof extending laterally in substantially parallel relationshipbeyond said frame member, a said laterally extending end portions havingaligned openings therein to position said bar in spaced relationshipoffset from said frame member,

a clamping element having a central section partially surrounding saidbarand disposed in space between said frame member and said bar,

said central section contacting said bar but spaced from said framemember,

a head of said clamping element extending at one end thereof laterallydisplaced from said central section,

a nose portion of said head contacting said frame member at a distancedisplaced from the center of said bar,

a lug portion of said clamping element extending laterally from saidcentral section of said clamping element in a direction oppositerelative to said bar from said nose portion,

an adjustable projecting member carried by said lug portion anddisplaced from the center of said bar a sufficient distance so as tocontact said frame portion on the opposite side of said bar from saidnose portion at a distance from the center of said bar substantiallygreater the distance from said center of said nose portion contact,thereby to afford a me chanical advantage on operation of saidadjustable projecting member forcing said lug portion away from saidframe portion resulting in a clamping force for positive positioning ofsaid bar relative to said frame member,

said central section of said clamping element between end portionsthereof being, of sufliciently relatively thinner cross section than theends thereof and also of arcuate form to frictionally engage with aresilient bending action about said peripheral portion of said bar whenclamped therebout, and

wherein said lug portion end of said clamping element has an adjustableprojecting member that is a screw threaded member adjustable in positionso as to obtain a movement of said end away from said frame member andto bend the intermediate portion of said clamping element about said barin clamping relationship.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,551 12/1923Strandlund 3061.5 3,107,932 10/1963 Johnson et al. 287-49 X CARL W.TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. V. KUNDRAT, Assistant Examiner.

